Pneumatic excavator and conveyer



April 15, 1930. H. A. FROHM 1,754,507

PNEUMATIC EXCAVATOR AND CONVEYER Filed Sept. 26, 1924 I I f r m /l 45 z l d 2 27920 Patented Apr. 15, 1930 PATENT OFFICE HENRY A. FROHM, F AETNA, INDIANA PNEUMATIGEXCAVATOR AND CONVEYER Application filed September 26, 1924. Serial No. 740,029.

My invention relates to improvements in pneumatic excavators and conveyers and it more especially consists of the features hereinafter pointed out in the annexed claims.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a simple and self-contained excavating and conveying mechanism which will operate efficiently in different kinds of material; that may be used for transferring materials as well as for excavating purposes; that may use a direct vacuum system; that may also use a combined pressure and vacuum system or a direct pressure and suction system; that provides a self-propelled car on Which the mechanism is supported; that may utilize a self-contained electric generating plant to furnish motive power for the different operations; that further provides means for controlling the intake of materials that are more or less damp; and that in addition provides means for adjusting the intake nozzle to different angular positions while working on the front of the material that is to be moved.

With these and other ends in view I illustrate in the accompanying drawing such indirect connected system.

In practically carrying out my invention I may use various alternatives adapted to the special exigencies of the work to be done. As exemplified in the drawing a main frame 1 is mounted on broad wheels 2. A house 3 is built on the frame to enclose the mechanism. The frame and Wheels can be traversed or moved from place to place by means of motor 30 connected to the drive wheelsin any well known manner. Inside of the house 3 a blower 4 having a base 5'is located- This blower may be driven by a motor 8 connected to its shaft 7. It has a central intake 6 and an outlet 9 which is connected to a reduced diameter nozzle 11 to a delivery pipe 10. This pipe may extend to whatever distance it is desired to convey the material, a halfmile more or less, and it is composed of telescoping joints such as are commonly used for conveying materials from hydraulic dredges. Alongside the nozzle 11 and parallel to it a vacuum or suction exit 12 is placed so that the nozzle 11 and outlet 12 are located within the cross sectional area of the delivery pipe 10. From the delivery end 12 the vacuum pipe 13 leads to the forward end of the machine. At 14 it is connected by means of a universal joint to the boom suction pipe 15 whose extreme forward end terminates in an adjustable mouth piece 22.

The interior of the houseor cab 3 also includes a self-contained electric generator 29 which supplies current for the traversing motor 30, blower motor 8, boom control inotor 26, telescoping motor 21'and mouth piece rotation motor 311 At the front end of the cab 3 an operators compartment 42 is formed. This may be provided with the usual switch board, control switches, etc, one for each of the several functions as desired. As the use of such switches is so well known they are not shown. The swinging suction pipe 15 is supported by bands 20 from the boom 18. This boom at 17 is forked so as to straddle the universal joint 14. It may swing on the 35 vertical axis 43 on a horizontal plane degrees or less, and vertically on a horizontal pivot 44 from the level of the wheel tread through an arc of approximately 90 degrees. These details and the construction of the der- 90 rick frame 16 are so Well known. it is not deemed necessary to specifically describe them. Suffice it to say that a tooth segment 23 shown in plan view in Fig. 2 meshes with a I worm shaft 24 that is connected by a clutch on the shaft 25 to the motor 26. Between the clutch and the shaft 24 any suitable reversing gears may be installed so that the boom 18 may be swung tothe right or to the left as desired. The motor 26 also drives the winding drum 27 being connected thereto by a suitable clutch. This drum carries the cable 28 which passes over suitable sheaves at the upper end of the derrick frame 16 and to the boom 18 as shown in Fig. 1.

The front end of the boom suction pipe 15 is provided with a mouth piece 22 set at an angle to the pipe 15. The mouth piece 22 is joined to the suction pipe 15 by telescopic portion 19 and the mouth piece may be turned on its own axis into different angular positions by a motor 31 connected to a ring gear on the moutn piece. The telescopic portion 19 is moved in and out by a motor 21 connected to a suitable rack 46 on the pipe or otherwise.

In case it is desired to use a combined pressure and vacuum system, the features shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 may be employed. In these a pressure pipe 32 is shown connected to the blower exit 9. This pipe runs parallel to the suction pipe 13 and opposite the universal joint 14. It is also supplied with a universal or flexible joint of any desired construction. Adjacent the universal joint 14 the pipe 32 is connected to a pipe 33 which lies practically parallel to the suction pipe 15, both pipes being supported by the same boom 18 in any desired manner. The free ends of the pipes 15 and 33 in vertical section terminate approximately as shown in Fig. 4 wherein the outer end of pipe 33 has a. return bend 34 formed thereon so as to direct the positive pressure of the pipe 33 rearwardly into the suction pipe 15 through anarrow and long opening 35 of the mouth piece 47.

The mouth piece 22 is widened out as shown in Figs. 5 and 8. It has a cutting edge 36 attached to the bottom of the mouth piece as shown in Fig. 7 or it may be located at the upper. edge of the mouth piece when the mouth piece is turned upside down. In case a direct connected low pressure system is used,

as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6, the pipe 15 is connected direct to the intake opening 6 of the blower 4 by means of receiving pipe pipe and means for manipulating the latter pipe and nozzle in unison.

2. In pneumatic systems, a blower mounted on a movable frame, an intake opening in operative relation to the blower, an exit therefrom, a swingable pipe, a fixed pipe connected to the exit of the blower, a universal joint connecting the two pipes, an elongated nozzle supported by the outer end of the swingable p e, means for actuating the blower to draw material into the nozzle and deliver it where desired, and means for manipulating the swmgable pipe and the nozzle in unison.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY A. FROHM.

37. For certain conditions of work the direct I suction system may be used as there is enough of clearance between the fan blades and the casing to prevent undue wearing of the fan blade edges.

I do not of course limit myself to any specifically related dimension of pipes or exact positive and negative pressure values.

What I claim is:

1. In pneumatic systems, a blower mounted on a movable frame, means for actuating the blower, an intake opening in operative relation to the blower, an exit therefrom, means for delivering material to be conveyed to the exit of the blower such means comprising a fixed horizontal pipe, a swingable pipe connected to the preceding pipe by a universal joint, an elongated rectangular nozzle supported by the outer end of the swingable 

